Apparatus for amalgamating ores



' 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

E. BOLLINGER.

APPARATUS FOR AMALGAMATING ORES. No. 278,861. Patented June 5,1883.

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1/ gwAgjw 4@ N. PETERS. Pholo-Lrthognpher. Washington. D4 4.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. BOLLINGER.

APPARATUS FOR AMALGAMATING ORES. No. 278,861. Patented June 5, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS BOLLINGER, or LoUIsvILLE, MARYLAND.

I Y APPARATUS FOR AMALGAMATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 278,861, dated June 5, 1883.

' application filed May 1, 1882. (No model.)

To t/ Z; whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS BoLLLvoER, of

' Louisville, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Amalgamating and otherwise Treating Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in the construction and arrangement of certain details of the apparatus, as will hereinafter appear.

In the description ofthe invention which fol lows, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure I is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. II. is a sectional plan of the invention. Figs. III and IV are views of details of the apparatus.

Similar letters of-refercnce indicate similar parts in all the views.

A is the grinding-pan. supported in a suitable frame B.

C is a vertical shaft, which is revolved through the medium of the gears a from the main driving-shaft D.

E E are conical rolls adapted to revolve freely on axial bars b, which project from the lower end of the shaft C. The bars I) are preferably formed of one piece of material, the center part of which is cast into the shaft 0, and curved, where thus inclosed by the shaft C, to conform to the shape of a step, E, which projects from the bottom of the pan A.

G G are scrapers secured to the lower end of theshafi C, and they are located between the rolls E, as shown in Figs..II, III, and IV.

H H are crushing-rolls situated over the grinding-pan A, and driven from the engine by means of gearing, after the usual manner of rolls of this description.

I isthe amalgamating-pan, having rolls 0 and scrapers d, Fig. II, attached to the lower end gears j.

of the vertical revoluble shaft 6, which is driven from the main shaft D by means of K is a conical or other shaped hopper, placed around the shaft e, and it terminates in a sleeve,

g, which extends to near the small rolls 0.

L is a water-tank, having a discharge-pipe, h, leading to the interior of the grinding-pan A, and another, 1', leading .to the sleeve 9.

. Both discharge-pipes are provided with cocksor valves to regulate the flow of water. The

chute, I, extending from the bottom of the said pan to the hopper K.

M is a steai'n-boiler, and X the main portion ofasteam-engine, which is used to drive the apparatus.

A pipe, m, is used to convey steam to near the bottom of the amalgamating-pan I in order to heat its contents. The amalgamating-pan I has also a delivery-door for amalgam, which is transferred to a soapstone dish, which is on a wheeled truck, and may be rolled on an ordinary track.

Parts of the invention not yet alluded to will be described and their uses set forth in the description of the operation of treating ores by means of my invention, which follows.

The ore is first broken by means of any suit able machine, and thenfed through a chute, O, to between the crushing-rolls H H, which reduce it to a state of comminution and allow it to pass to the grinding-pan A, where it is further reduced by the rolls E E, and alsobrought into contact with mercury. During this process water is carried through the pipe I: to the grinding-pan A. ,The reduced ore, amalgam, and the other contents of the grind ing-pa-n A are conducted gradually through the chute Z to the hopper K, and thence through the sleeve 9 to near the bottom of the amalgamating-pa'n I.. It will be seen that a better union is effected between the mercury on the bottom of the amalgamating-pan I and the gold and amalgam introduced thereto by conduct: ing it to the bottom of the said pan by means of the sleeve than if it were discharged at the surface of the water, as gold introduced is frequently in a very fine state of division and liable to float in water. The discharge of the amalgam and ground ore from-the grindingpan A, as well as the mixing of the mercury with the ore, is effected in a thorough manner means of the scrapers G, as will be understood. The grinding and amalgamating process is continued inthe amalgamating-pan I, and the water and refuse matter allowed to flow over the upper edge thereof. The amalgam is finally discharged to the soapstone dish P, before alluded to, when the said dish is carried mator.

to and over a furnace, Q, and under a hood, R, which connects with a condensing-tube, S, extending through a body of water in a vat, 'l. The condensed mercury is finally caught in a bottle, U. It will be understood that by heating the contents of the amalgamating-pan-I by steam the amalgamating process is facilitated. I construct the dish P of soapstone, as that material is a poor conductor of heat, and is not effected, as is metal, by the action of mercury.

I am aware that a perforated pipe hasv been employed to carry superheated steam to the contents of an amalga-mat-ing-pan, the same being used in what is termed a dry amalga- I therefore cannot claim, broadly, the use of a steam-pipe in connection with an amalgamating-pan; but I believe that steam has not been used in connection with rolls and scrapers in an amalgamating-pan to enhance the value of these devices in the amalgamating operation.

I claim as my invention 1. In an amalgamating and grinding apparatus, the combination of an amalgamatingpan having a central revoluble shaft provided at its lower end with rolls and scrapers, a pair of crushing-rolls situated over the said amalgamating-pan, and a chute to convey ore to the said crushing-rolls, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an amalgamating and grinding appa-' ratus, the combination of an amalgamatingpan having therein revoluble rolls and scrapers, and a steam-pipe to heat the contents of the said amalgamatingpan, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ELIAS BOlJLIXGER.

\Vitnesses;

HUGO E. FIDDIS, PHINEAS A. GORSUCH. 

